The Learning Lab experience is supported by both asynchronous and synchronous components. Each Learning Lab sequence includes a set of resources, an asynchronous discussion, and an interactive live session, all of which culminate in the development of a project or application to apply learning to local and specific contexts in support of the learning objectives.
Schedule
Welcome Session
September 13, 2022, 1:00–2:00 p.m. ET
This is a live session to learn the details of the Learning Lab, the Canvas site, and expectations for the microcredential. There will also be time to get to know your fellow Lab partners and facilitator.
Learning Cycle 1: The Academic Value of Technology Skills
September 15, 2022, 1:00–2:30 p.m. ET
Professional values are the cornerstone of understanding how we can contribute in our workplaces. In this session, we’ll reflect on your values, how they relate to your institution or organization, and how they can help you identify your unique “superpowers” within the workplace. We’ll also talk about strategies for identifying and translating your skills and abilities for academic environments, including cover letters for jobs and documents such as annual evaluations.
Learning Cycle 2: Expanding Your Alt-Ac Career by Leveraging Your Technology Skills
September 22, 2022, 1:00–2:30 p.m. ET
To build our alt-ac careers we must be more intentional. This includes aligning our technology work to advance and support an academic mission, building a portfolio of our contributions, and seeking opportunities to grow and advance professionally. In this session of our course, we’ll focus on the “academic” side of “alternative academic” and share ways for you to integrate your technology role or skills into the academic life of the institution. Then we’ll discuss how to showcase those integration points in a portfolio and use them to move up the alt-ac career ladder at your institution.
Review and Reflect Session
September 29, 2022, 1:00–2:30 p.m. ET
The Learning Lab will conclude with an application or implementation project (described below) and a closing live session to review and process the learning from the lab.
Lab Implementation Project
Growing the Alt-Ac Part of Your Technology Career Now that you have mapped your professional values, identified your technology-sector “superpowers,” and begun your alt-ac portfolio, it’s time to put those ideas into action. In the implementation project, you’ll uncover specific people, projects, and advocacy opportunities that help technology professionals grow their alt-ac work. You’ll come away with a customized set of concrete actions that you can take in the near, medium, and long terms of your career.